Investigation of energy absorption capacity of 3D filament wound composite tubes: experimental evaluation, numerical simulation, and acoustic emission monitoring

By analyzing the failure mechanisms, crashworthiness characteristics of FW composite tubes subjected to two modes of progressive damage and catastrophic failure are investigated using acoustic emission technique and numerical method. The AE signals of +/- 45 degrees composite tubes were classified using hierarchical and wavelet transform methods, and based on the realistic and three-dimensional geometrical architecture of tubular structures, the microstructural finite element model was developed using Catia and ABAQUS software. Then deformation patterns and the impression of each mechanism on the crashworthiness characteristics were assessed. Results indicated that fiber breakage and fiber/matrix debonding could likely control the higher percentage of damage. By changing the type of modes from progressive damage to catastrophic failure, the percentage of matrix cracking increases, the fiber/matrix separation decreases, and the failure behavior become dominated by local buckling. Comparing the FE simulation with experimental results, we found the proposed 3D model can reasonably predict the pre-crushing, post-crushing, and material densification.

Automated summary

By analyzing the failure mechanisms, this study investigates the crashworthiness characteristics of FW composite tubes under two different modes of damage. The acoustic emission technique and numerical method are used, and the AE signals are classified using hierarchical and wavelet transform methods. A microstructural finite element model is developed based on the realistic and three-dimensional geometrical architecture, and deformation patterns and the impact on crashworthiness characteristics are assessed. The results show that fiber breakage and fiber/matrix debonding play a significant role in the damage. Changing the modes from progressive damage to catastrophic failure increases the percentage of matrix cracking and decreases fiber/matrix separation.